This past week has been warm, but the transition into autumn is unmistakable. The sun is setting earlier, the morning air is crisper, and the elk are passing through the valley as they migrate to their winter ranges.
Even if you’re not into drinking pumpkin spice lattes, harvesting your crops in a worn-out flannel, or listening to Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors while walking through fallen leaves, this season’s potential silver lining is that it contains some great holidays.
Giving Day for Apes, Jamieween, Dia de Los Muertos, Native American Heritage Day, Election Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, Black Friday… it’s always hard to pick a favorite! Of course, the best strategy is probably to cherish each one in its moment, just as we make the most of each passing season.
To kick things off, we honored today, October 4th, as World Animal Day. The first celebration of this holiday, which occurred in Germany in 1925, was chosen to honor the Catholic Saint Francis of Assisi who is regarded as a protector of nonhuman beings. In 1979, Pope John Paul II actually declared that Francis would also be the patron saint of the science of ecology, protecting the Earth’s fragile ecosystems. Rock on, St. Francis!
In celebration of this unique day, Chad and I thought it would be fitting to highlight our nonhuman friends: the cattle. Is there a better way to honor these bovine lawnmowers than with four amateur haikus, accompanied by some of my favorite seasonal photographs?
“Betsy”
Before the new grass
Look for her in the creek bed
In Nutmeg’s shadow
“Nutmeg”
Warm gentle giant
Mowing sanctuary lawns
Saxophones taste good
“Meredith”
Strolls the golden woods
Black mask over sweet nature
Real Jerseys have curves
“Honey”
Tan fur capped with frost
She awaits the alfalfa
Do not touch the horns
Happy World Animal Day, everyone!
Happy World Animal Day to all. I Love the blog and the wonderful pictures you shared. Thank You.?
I’m don’t comment everyday, but my husband and I read the blog everyday, and we appreciate each and every blog you do. I know it’s time consuming, and requires a lot of thought and creativity as well. Deep thanks for allowing us to feel apart of your day, each day! We look forward to reading about the daily activities of the chimps, bovines, and caregivers. ThNk you!
I love the haiku! I would not call these mediocre at all. Because, then I would have to call the haiku that I write mediocre!
I love these haikus! I am so glad that those four are in an environment where they are safe and living the life that a (2,000-pound) farm dog might have. Happy World Animal Day!
Happy World Animal Day! I love all animals!
Absolutely beautiful photographs of the sweet cattle. And lovely poetry. Thank you. Happy World Animal Day to all.
Thanks so much, Chad and Anthony, for these wonderful photos. You can really see their personalities in these great closeups, and the haiku are not at all ‘mediocre’ — they’re great and very heartfelt. I want to kiss those noses and hug their necks! St. Francis had it right. And, here’s to a very successful ‘Giving Day for Apes’.
Hi Marya…You’re comment makes me smile so much because I always long to kiss the “sweet spot” on top of Meredith, Honey & Nutmeg’s heads…They just have the sweetest innocent look about them…
About 35-40 years ago, my SIL was a rural mail carrier, & the biggest problem she ever had on her route, was the day a young rogue cow or bull, had escaped from a neighborhood farm, & started chasing her down this old country road…We still laugh about it all these later…HaHaHa
All of the staff does a wonderful job of taking care of the chimps but giving sanctuary to the cattle gives this ‘farm girl at heart’ a warm feeling and happy smiles. I love seeing pictures of them!
Such beautiful cows.
Great pictures,
I love your creativity
Thank you.
Oh my goodness these are most wonderful, hardly mediocre! What a beautiful way to celebrate those beautiful bovines; Happy World Animal day to all of you too!
Most sincerely,
Caroline
Deee-lightful post! Factoids, photos, and poetry. I never noticed that Merediths mask looks as if it was spray painted on to her lovely face. I love studying their faces.
Happy World Animal Day!
Beautiful!
Thank you for your sweet and somewhat silly haikus! The cows are adorable, glad they have a home with y’all.